Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder Officially Launches Campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District

Surrounded by family and supporters, Chaz Molder laid out his positive vision for the future of Middle Tennessee

See photos from the event here

Watch Mayor Molder’s launch video here, download the videos for distribution here

COLUMBIA, TN: Today, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder announced that he will be running for Congress in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District to unseat Andy Ogles. 

At a campaign launch event outside of Hattie Jane’s Creamery in Columbia, TN, Molder emphasized his experience in bringing together Tennesseeans from all walks of life during his eight years as Mayor of Columbia. 

“I’m running for Congress because Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District deserves a representative that makes local headlines for the right reasons instead of national headlines for the wrong reasons,” Chaz Molder said. “We don’t have to be embarrassed by our Congressman. I’m building a broad coalition that is going to win next November and bring Main Street values to D.C.”

Chaz Molder was first elected as Columbia’s mayor in 2018 after defeating a two-term Republican. He was then re-elected in 2022 against a local Republican County Party Chair. A fiscally responsible problem solver and coalition builder, Molder has worked across the aisle to pass seven balanced budgets with no property tax increases while investing in education and public safety. 

A product of local Tennessee public schools, Molder and his wife Elizabeth are raising their three children in Columbia where Chaz also teaches Sunday school in the same place his own father taught him.

Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District is being targeted by Democrats as a top flip-opportunity in 2026. 

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